As they entered, a warm greeting awaited them from the receptionist. "Welcome to Kenning's Restaurant, ladies! May I have the name on your reservation?"
"Hi, it's under Jason," Sharon replied, a grin playing on her lips.
"Oh yes, Mr Jason! Dinner at 6 pm in our rooftop area. Right this way, please." With a gentle swipe of her card, the receptionist ushered them to the lift, chirping, "Enjoy your dinner date!"
Once on the rooftop, Sharon's eyes immediately found Jason, who stood like a gentleman, a smile plastered on his face. He whisked out a chair for her, helping her settle in whilst Karol observed, suppressing her own amusement.
"Not bad, Jason! Your choice of location is quite impressive," Sharon complimented, breaking the ice.
"Of course, I always remember what my baby girl loves," he replied, his charming smile wide.
Karol, the self-proclaimed third wheel, rolled her eyes with exaggerated annoyance at their sweet exchanges, internally questioning her life choices as the thought of leaping from the rooftop crossed her mind.
"Erm... I think I'll just slip away while you two lovebirds are lost in your own world, completely forgetting this sad single lady is still here," Sharon remarked, a hint of sarcasm weaving through her words.
"No, don't! Please don't say that!" Jason interjected, his gaze darting between Karol and Sharon, desperation lacing his voice. "I wanted us to bond, to get to know each other better." His voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper as he added, "Besides, your soulmate might be closer than you think," while flashing a charming smile at Sharon, who met his gaze with a raised eyebrow, suspicion flickering in her eyes.
Feeling the tension, Sharon quickly glanced around the room, her eyes scanning for a distraction. "Have you ordered the food yet?" she asked, trying to veer the conversation away from its current course. She searched the room for a waitress, her anxiety mounting as she realised none were in sight.
"Don't worry, I've got it handled," Jason replied, his smile brightening the dim light of the restaurant. "I ordered the best dishes, highly recommended by the chef."
Karol, keen to maintain the light atmosphere, chimed in, "Thank the heavens you ordered already, so we can eat right away! And oh, look! Here comes our food!" Her excitement was palpable as she pointed towards a waitress balancing a tray overflowing with their dinner.
As the meal progressed, the trio engaged in casual chatter, the atmosphere easing into a comfortable rhythm. However, when nature called, Sharon excused herself to the restroom, leaving Karol and Jason alone at the table.
Jason cast a soft smile at Karol, who, in a mischievous mood, scrunched her face into a judgy expression and pretended to stroke an invisible beard. "So, Jason," she said, getting straight to the point now that her sister was out of earshot, "what are your intentions with my sister?"
Slicing through his steak with deliberate care, Jason replied earnestly, "Nothing less than love. From the first moment I saw her, it was love at first sight." Yet, something in his sincerity did not fully convince Karol; doubt flickered in her eyes.
"Really? Then tell me truthfully, Jason. Why her and not someone else? Is it her status?"
"Like I said, it's all about love at first sight, not her status. I've learned about your family from Sharon, and honestly? She's the one who opened up to me."
As he savoured the last bite of his meal, he muttered almost to himself, "Well, she is like that when she's in love with someone." The words caught him off guard, however, as Karol's incredulous expression registered in his mind.
"Seriously?! She LOVES me?!" Jason exclaimed, an incredulous grin spreading across his face, emphasising the last two words in a dramatic fashion.
Just then, Sharon returned, oblivious as she settled beside Jason, her brow creased in confusion. "Love you what?" she asked, bewildered by the energy at the table.
Karol smirked, diving into the chaos. "I just told him you're in love with him, and he's over the moon about it. So, yeah, problem solved. I mean, Jason loves you, and you love him—"
"Huh? Wait a sec—" Sharon interrupted, but Jason seized her hand, the intensity of his gaze locking her in place.
"Yes, honestly, I'm in love with you, Sharon Randale. It's love at first sight! I know it sounds foolish and perhaps even a bit juvenile, but I'm absolutely head over heels for you. You are my happily ever after—your laughter, your smile, even the way you wake each morning makes me realise you're 'the one'. I don't quite know how to put it into words, but my heart insists you're my angel, sent from above."
In that moment, it seemed the world faded around them, lost in their own bubble of affection. Meanwhile, Karol rose to the occasion as the unwitting observer, her soft murmur cutting through the romantic air. "Actually, more like the devil booted out of hell," she quipped, earning snorts of laughter from both Jason and Sharon.
Sharon blinked, half-laughing, half-confused. "You love me?! Why wasn't I aware? I thought we were just getting to know each other!"
"And the sloth is back!" Karol muttered, earning herself a few pointed glares from Sharon.
Jason leaned closer, tugging gently on Sharon's hand, seeking her full attention. "We are, and I'd like to suggest we start a relationship to really explore our connection. So, Sharon Randale, will you be my girlfriend?" A shy nod from Sharon was the only answer he needed.
Karol, feigning horror at their sweetness, struggled to suppress her own laughter while battling an urge to gag. Yet, pride swelled in her chest, overcoming her queebleness, as she realised her unofficial job of supporting her sister was succeeding.
They embraced tightly, their lips meeting in a fervent kiss right in front of her dying sister. Each fleeting second ticked by, and Karol meticulously recorded the moment, mindful of the agony shrouding the room. With a quiet finality, she ended the recording without either Jason or Sharon aware of her clandestine observation.
What had begun as a simple dinner date morphed into a poignant revelation, an official declaration of love that somehow concluded on a note of hope as they parted ways.
As they made their way home, Karol broke the silence, her voice a teasing lilt. "You need to tell Mummy and Daddy about this when we pick them up tomorrow, okay?"
"Of course! I'll tell them tomorrow," Sharon replied, her gaze drifting through the window. "Or better yet, right after we get home. Before I go to sleep, I promise."
Karol narrowed her eyes at her sister, who remained lost in thought facing the window. With a mischievous grin, she struck her thigh in a playful high-five, bursting into laughter. The car swayed as Sharon reciprocated the high-five, a playful slap resonating through the air.
"Jeez, Sissy! You almost got us both killed! I know you missed your bae, but please, hold it together while I'm driving!"
"Oh, shut up! I can be distracting too. Just wait until you find yours—I'll torment you ten times harder!"
YOU ARE READING
The One
FantasíaA regular bedtime story that was being told as a small kid turns into recurrent dreams as an adult then dismisses them as childhood imaginings. But as she passes her 21st birthday suddenly her dreams of wolves become more vivid, more realistic, a dr...
